So, I went over to my friends house tonight and hung out for a while. The coffee shop inevitably comes up in nearly every conversation I have about real life. And she told me about her church's affiliated coffee shop in Santa Cruz, just another one I think we could add to the list as a short spring break trip.
I also want to take this time to thank, appreciate, affirm, and celebrate you guys for journeying this earthly life with me as we anticipate our heavenly existences. Yesterday night I was cleaning my room, doing laundry, and doing general tidying when I came across a letter that had fallen out of my stack of letters. It was one that Alyssa had written me on the very last weekend trip of the summer. In it she (you) detailed that her alarm clock was likely to die during the night and asked if I would wake her in the morning. She (you) then proceeded to add gushy stuff about how ridiculously blessed we are to be friends. Needless to say, I ended up reading through every letter I have as my laundry was cycling and ended up nearly (more like practically) weeping on my roommates bed because I felt so loved.
I think so highly of you two, individually and as a pair.
Pearl (Kristen), I appreciate you more than I could ever write down. When I think about "consistency of spiritual life", I think "Pearl". I don't know if I ever told you this, but senior year of high school I told my mom that I wished we had been close friends way earlier because I began to see the woman of God you had always been. When others will understand and sympathize with lies I tell myself about who I am and what my relationship with Yahweh looks like, you speak truth, you see beyond the lie and speak concise truth that penetrates and changes hearts. The spirit is alive and well in you, hearing and discerning truth for the purpose of your own personal growth and sharing it with others. You have the most tangible relationship with your "abba" out of anyone I know. You laugh at jokes that I say for your benefit. You are brilliant, beautiful, and worthy of love. If there's anyone in the world I could count to be on the same page as me on something, it's you. I am blessed to have had you in my life during the most intense and spiritually moving moments of my life. I am jealous for those that will work with you this summer, they won't know what a blessing it is until they leave. I phileo you.
Bar-High (Alyssa), I'm not really sure when it was we became such close friends, it sort of just happened after knowing each other for one week on Shasta. You're a hoot, I absolutely love every moment I get to spend with you because we're either laughing or drawing nearer to the throneroom. I'm not sure I know anyone that more thoroughly emits radiant joy in everything that they do than you do. You have such a raw passion for the things of Yahweh that you either are compelled to share it with the world or are otherwise incapable of hiding it from the world. I find myself drawn to you (...all the time, but also) when I am in need of a refreshing drink of how our Lord loves us. When He seems distant or the road seems dark/narrow, I see Him working, molding, and shaping you always. I see in you the abandon for Jesus that the woman who anoints His feet with perfume, kisses them, and dries them with her hair, nothing will get in the way of you giving Jesus all the worship He is worthy of. I am truly blessed to have you in my life. I phileo you, as well.
There is literally nobody else on the face of the earth I would rather see this vision Yahweh has given us come to fruition with than you two. Nobody else would understand me at the core of who I am as well, or understand what sacrificial, servant love looks like as do you two. Yahweh, you are too good to me.
Wow. Bazinga indeed.
ReplyDeleteI don't even really know how to comment on that, but thank you. Thank you for the blessing you've been in my life, in both of our lives, over the years. I am blessed and honored to call you my friend and co-drivee.
And if I could take a minute to affirm you too, I love that you're the kind of leader that will gladly step up when needed but in no way /needs/ to be in charge. When I think about your leadership style, I think of the fact that when the driver team (or any group really) starts out a group prayer and there's that awkward silence as we wait for someone to kick off, you always start! You don't thrive off leadership in an unhealthy way, but when you see the void you fill it. And not only do you fill it, but - like the group prayer - you fill it in such a way that leads those around you directly to Christ.
The cumulative /days/ we've spent in a car somewhere on I-5 (or 101...) together and the really real dialogue we've had along the way have truly been a blessing. Not gonna lie - houseboats is going to be a different experience this summer without you, brother.